Hear Her Out.

"Well, come on in." I say, motioning with my hand. "Let's hear what you have to say."

"Oh, thank you!" She pratically giggles. "If you turned me away, I wouldn't know what to do." She follows me into my cluttered office. I wish I had taken the time to clean up yesterday like I told myself I would. This place could be zoned as a disaster area.

"Pardon the mess." I chuckle nervously, scratching the back of my head.

"It's no problem." She shakes her head. "My father always used to say that messes are the marks of a true genius."

I'd like to work with her father, I think to myself. I bet he'd nag me about my living habits a lot less than my current partner. That reminds me of the girl on the couch and I turn my head to see Maya is still curled up on a ball on the couch, her purple acolyte robes wrinkled from rolling around in her sleep. Did I mention she's a spirit medium who can channel the dead? Because she is. Sorta. More like a spirit medium in training.

"Umm?" The girl asks, following my gaze to Maya. I cough politely to get Maya's attention. All I get back is a snore. I clear my throat again. And again. And again.

"Maya!" I exclaim. The black-haired girl sits straight up, eyes wide and arms flailing.

"I didn't eat all the hamburgers, I swear!" She yells out, then blinks a few times and remembers where she is. "Errr...The couch? I fell asleep here?" She turned to look at me. "Nick?" She asks, using her favorite nickname for me. "What's going on?" I cock my head toward the cute girl to my left. Maya furrows her brow. "What's wrong with you? Do you have a problem in your neck or something?"

"Maya...we have a client." I hissed to her.

"Huh?" She responds, then turns her head to face the new girl.

"Hi." The girl laughs and waves.

"AUUUUUGH!" Maya jumps off the couch, furiously straighting her robes. "Nick! Why didn't you tell me?! My hair is a mess, my clothes are wrinkled, my teeth aren't brushed! AUUUUGH!" She runs off into another office room, vanishing from sight.

"Sorry about that." I say to my new, and hopefully still interested, client. "That was Maya...well, being Maya."

"Of course! I know Maya." The girl says. "She the assistant you've defended in court twice."

"Three times now, but who's counting?" I reply. "So what's your name, miss?"

"Melody Swallows." She says with a little smile. I nearly **** on the air I'm breathing. She gasps and blushes a slightly. "Sorry! I'm so used to going by...um...my real name is Melody Fairchild."

"Melody Fairchild?" I ask. That's a whole lot easier to say with a straight face. "Well, why don't you tell me what's going on?"

"Okay...do you know Harry Flynn?" Melody asks.

"Harry Flynn? Isn't he the adult entertainment mogul?" I ask. "I've heard his name come up in a few trials about decency and morality in society."

"That's Harry. Did you know he died a few days back?"

"Really?" I ask in genuine suprise. The gears in my mind start turning and I begin to see where this is headed. "I'm going to guess it's not natural causes."

"No. He was murdered." Melody said, shaking her head. "I don't know the details, but the police are sure of it. It's too bad. He may have been a bit of a pervert, but he really was a sweet man."

Ooookay. "And your friend...I assume she's caught up in all this."

"Yes. Cordelia Tightb-Cordelia Potter." She corrects herself. "She was accused of killing him."

"And do you know why she was suspected?" I follow up.

"They say her fingerprints are all over the crime scene." Melody sighs. "She, I mean we, worked for Mr. Flynn."

"You...worked for him." I repeat, trying to keep my face blank.

"Yes. That isn't...going to be a problem, is it?" She looks at me worriedly. "I haven't been in that many adult movies..."

"You...you're both...porn stars?" I ask weakly. I've had to defend some odd characters before, but this takes the cake!

"Oh, please don't turn me away Mr. Wright!" Melody pleads. "I have nowhere else to turn! No one else would possibly take this case! I'll do anything you ask! Just help my friend, please!"